The Installer May-June 2013

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As a long time member of the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, I have seen the organization recognize so many deserving members of our industry over the years and build those bridges that must be erected to develop successful relationships and alliances across the many sectors of the wallcovering industry. That recognition is what motivates our industry to continually strive for growth and success.

Being a successful wallcovering installer is not solely about being a master craftsman. It’s about being a well-rounded professional who is able to run a successful business, manage a career path, and work with others committed to growing the industry that we all rely upon. It’s about “mattering” and leaving your mark on an industry that crosses skill sets, empowers many, and requires partnerships and alliances.

NGPP’s National Awards program, this year sponsored by Gardner-Gibson, is committed to recognizing members of the wallcovering industry who have gone above and beyond and embraced the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. No one member of the industry, whether this be an installer, a retailer, a distributor, a manufacturer or end-user, can have an impact alone. Awards recognize members of NGPP have committed themselves to the betterment of wallcovering, not just the installation aspect.

I have watched novices and experts join the NGPP to grow on both a professional and personal level. I have watched these individuals become experienced leaders and trusted advisers to their colleagues, to members of the industry such as retailers or manufacturers, to members of the design community, and, most importantly, to our customers. Young men and women, once green, sometimes lack confidence or perhaps have a great deal of confidence but lack the knowledge to deliver. Their participation in this organization transforms them into experts

who become the leaders willing to share and mentor their successors.

NGPP’s National Awards Program was established to recognize those who have the passion for the wallcovering installation profession and have been instrumental in moving the professionals within the organization beyond expectations.

We all know a few of those who have the infectious NGPP spirit deserving of recognition. Show your leadership qualities by nominating someone for the much deserved recognition (deadline July 1). Together, the various segments of the industry will continue to grow through innovation and collaboration.

Whether it’s a chapter of NGPP that deserves to be recognized, an installer member with the technical and business know-how to wow the rest of us, a supplier to the trade who exemplifies support, a member who leads by example and isn’t afraid to share, or an installer who has that itch for innovation and has made an impact in the last year, there is an award for that someone deserving.

For a list of previous recipients or nomination information for the 2013 NGPP National Awards Program, visit www.ngpp.org

Volume 38, Issue 3 May/June 2013

INSIDE THIS ISSUEPresident’s Message .......................................................................2More to Being a Member ...............................................................3Candidate Bios .............................................................................4-5LA Chapter Visit ..............................................................................5Sweep with Ease .............................................................................6Fabric Mate .....................................................................................6Why go to a Convention ..................................................................7Editor’s Note ...................................................................................7Architexture, Imagine - Design - Create .......................................8-9CP Renewals ...................................................................................9Get a Blog,Get the Job .............................................................10-11Chapters ........................................................................................12

Why Are Some So Deserving?By NGPP Member Jack Ford, Gardner-Gibson, Powell, Ohio

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Guess what time it is? It’s the perfect time to talk about how we might create new networking opportunities and one of the prime places to do exactly that is the NGPP National Convention and Vendor Showcase! Our national convention is right around the corner and I encourage you to consider attending this fabulous event. Come and see first-hand the excitement that you feel from this networking experience. The convention opens up new avenues of opportunity for revenue as well as gaining knowledge of what is tried and true and what is fabulously new!

Networking and learning about what is new and exciting in the industry is exactly what the NGPP Convention and Education Committees have planned. Pre-convention education sessions are being offered that will take your skill set with Bradbury & Bradbury, as well as installation of fabrics, to a whole new level and is a great way to expand on what your business offers. Get familiar with the techniques to install these materials and add it to your repertoire to create that new opportunity for your business and gain the competitive advantage over your competition. If you are uncomfortable with intricate products such as these, familiarize yourself with skills to tackle them. The best way to survive competition or thrive in any type of economy is through the experience you provide yourself with continued education.

We can also create opportunities for the NGPP, as a whole, by networking with the entire industry to create a market for wallcovering. By networking within the industry we create value for our organization. We can be a part of the solution which is to bring focus to wallcovering and promote great installations. It only makes sense to create opportunities to promote wallcovering so that our industry and businesses grow.

Vendors from across the nation will assemble at the Vendor Showcase and will once again be dazzling members with their latest and greatest products and technology. Attendees of the 2012

show included Royson’s, Roos International, Rust-Oleum Corporation, Len-Tex Corp., Warner Wallcovering, Gardner-Gibson, Sherwin-Williams, Cavalier Wall Liner, MDC Wallcovering, Vahallan Papers, XIM Product, York Wallcovering, Purdy Corp., and Advance Equipment Manufacturing. The reception sponsored by this group of great members was spectacular and another fun and festive reception is scheduled for Friday, September 13, 2013.

We are blessed to have fabulous associate members who want to sponsor various events. The current list includes sponsorships of the Winning Walls With Wallcovering contest from Rust-Oleum Corporation, Zinsser Brands, and Royson’s. Sponsoring the national awards for 2013 will be Gardner-Gibson, maker of Dynamite 234 and 433 wallcovering adhesives. But, the learning could not take place without the contributions of material and products from many of our other fine associates. A complete list of these generous donors will be published at the convention and there is still time to participate. If you would like to participate please contact the national office at (800) 254-6477.

So what else is high priority for NGPP? NGPP is beginning the Board of Directors election of officers for 2013. Results of the election will be shared on September 14, 2013, at the National Awards Luncheon in Reno, Nevada. We look forward to each of you exercising your right to vote! The voting will once again be electronic with paper copies sent to those members without electronic capabilities. The votes are sent to a Certified Public Accountant for tally, so each and every vote really does count! I encourage you to vote so let’s keep NGPP moving forward.

I look forward to visiting with those of you attending the convention and want you all to feel free to contact me at any time during the year.

President’s Message . . .

Advance Equipment Manufacturing CompanyBradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers, Inc.Cavalier Wall LinerConcertexCustom Laminations, Inc./The CLI GroupDesigntex Group (The)Environmental GraphicsFabric Mate SystemsFidelity Wallcovering, Inc.Gardner-GibsonJacaranda, Inc.Jack Loconsolo & Company, Inc.Jacobsen & BallaKC Sales GroupKoessel StudiosLen-Tex WallcoveringsLSI WallcoveringMaya Romanoff CorporationMDC WallcoveringsMetro WallcoveringsNational Wallcovering/Tapo-FixNew Era PortfolioOLFA - North AmericaPacific Laser Systems (PLS)Phillip Jeffries Ltd.Purdy CorporationRife RE Enterprises LLC

Roman Decorating ProductsRoos International, Ltd. WallcoveringRoysonsRust-Oleum Corporation, Zinsser BrandsSchooner PrintsScotch Paint Corp.Sean O’Connell Painting Corp.Sherwin WilliamsSherwin-Williams CompanyStark WallcoveringSteve’s Blinds & Wallpaper, LLC.Tajima Tool CorporationTextile Wallcoverings International, LTD (TWIL)The Williamson Free School of Mechanical TradesThibaut WallcoveringTotal WallcoveringVahallan PapersWallauer’sWallpaper WholesalerWarner Wallcoverings, Division of RJF InternationalWeitznerWolf-Gordon, Inc.XIM Products, Inc.York Wallcoverings, Inc.

nAtIonAl ASSocIAte MeMberS

creating More opportunitiesBy President Cyndi Green, C.P., Cyndi Green Wallcovering, LLC, Monroe, Louisiana

More to being a MemberBy NGPP South Alternate Region Director Michael King, King’s Custom Wallcovering, Keller, Texas

When I was asked to write an article for The Installer I didn’t realize how important it was. I was shocked to learn that the majority of members read The Installer and that is the only contact they will have with other Guild members. Their only perceived benefits are the publication and the “find a paperhanger” service. In this case, they are overlooking many services that being a member of the Guild offers. One of the best kept secrets would be the national convention and vendor showcase.

My first convention was in New Orleans. I didn’t know there were people out there who were just like me, with the same concerns, the same experiences, and the willingness to offer helpful advice that might save you in the future. I have yet to meet a single person at a convention who didn’t have my best interests at heart. While I may have just met someone from the other side of the country, I know he or she is just a phone call away if I need advice. If I hadn’t met that person face to face at the convention, then I would be reluctant to call.

In Dallas I work alongside my four brothers and son. Recently we were working on a commercial job and I paused to think about how much we have changed since I started attending conventions. It’s amazing how many little tricks we have incorporated into our work. From new seals to new adhesives, our installations are not the same. I know that we are better at what we do now, and attending conventions is the sole reason. Sometimes I can’t wait to get home and teach my brothers what I have learned in the tabletop sessions and classes.

While only two of us are members, with the skills we bring home the rest are sure to become members in no time.

The advice, the techniques, and the confidence you get from attending a convention are all worthwhile, but there is a greater benefit that is only available at the convention. You will be introduced to people the first day who will instantly become your friends, but by the last day they will be like family. There are a handful of people whom I can’t wait to see every year; the convention can’t get here fast enough.

So come to the convention and get an earful of advice, a head full of knowledge, and a bucketful of free samples. But don’t leave without a handful of new friends that will one day be just like family. I’ll be there, and I can’t wait to meet you!

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PRESIDENT CANDIDATES:Cyndi Green, C.P.

I have been a successful commercial/residential installer for 30-plus years. As a member of the NGPP since 2000, I currently serve as your president. On the board since 2005, I

have served one term as president, one as secretary and two terms as a region director. I have chaired three charity hangs and committees like the Art of Wall, Workshop/Tech Tour, Website and Convention. I believe in giving back, so I have contributed articles to various magazines and presented at conventions and workshops. I work to promote members on national programs such as Martha Stewart Living. I have been blessed with awards such as the Laffer Award and multiple WWWW awards, but my greatest award was being elected your president. As a strong leader with integrity and nine consecutive years’ board experience, I know that together we can continue to progress and gain momentum. I seek your support to remain your president.

Chris MurphyI have been in business for 34 years. In 2000, I saw what the NGPP had to offer and joined. I have been an active member since, trying to give back as much as I’ve gotten. I

started writing articles for The Installer in 2003, and eventually became editor and communications chair (’05-’07). I was the

Southeast Region Director from 2004-2006. In that job, I helped lead the Atlanta workshop. I am currently on the board as the national treasurer.

Although it’s been some time since I graduated (Binghamton University, ’76), I used my 16 credit hours in accounting to do my business and family taxes until I incorporated. Those courses taught me how to read and interpret financial statements. Being knowledgeable about the by-laws and non-profit procedure will allow me to help soundly guide the Guild as an organization. I ask for your vote as president of the NGPP.

VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE:Vincent Larusso, C.P.I have been an installer for over 33 years and an NGPP member since 2001. As a proud member of NGPP, I have served as National 1st Vice President, National 2nd Vice President,

Region Director, Alternate Region Director, International Member Liaison, Chapter President and Chapter Vice President.

I believe that when you give to our industry you receive more than you can ever give. I have been blessed with many things including the ability to serve NGPP and work toward growth. I want to continue to work toward growth. My vision is to see installers across the world join NGPP and have NGPP as the primary resource for member needs. I will work toward continuing to provide great programs and services which will improve your bottom line. I am asking for your vote.

2013 national Guild of Professional Paperhangers officer election

NGPP is happy to announce our slate of candidates for officers for the 2013-2015 term:

SECRETARY CANDIDATE:Bob BankerI began hanging wallpaper as a part-time installer a couple of nights a week, Saturdays and summers in 1979.  As a high school English teacher, there was a definite need to add

some money to my growing family.  The central Kentucky area has always provided much work through the years and my family has continued to grow.  Being a man of two professions quickly gave me much notoriety.  I have always been interested in education, and joined the Guild in 2001 to seek out others in the profession and learn from the best.  Having retired from teaching, I now install and remove wallcovering in homes, businesses and horse farms of central Kentucky.  I have served two terms as the region director for the Lower Great Lakes.  I’d like to serve again as secretary. I enjoy being an independent thinker and a voice for the everyday installer.

TREASURER CANDIDATE:Carl Bergman, C.P.I joined the NGPP in 1993 because I believed in this industry. I worked with the Milwaukee, Chicago and Rockford Chapters to create a local presence and resource for area

installers. As a graduate in data processing and accounting, I decided to work for the Guild on a national level and spent time as the national treasurer, region director and alternate region director. I like the direction that NGPP is now going and respect and am inspired by the work of our current president and past president. I attribute a great deal of my success to Guild participation and want to give back so I am asking for your support as the NGPP National Treasurer.

california Gets a VisitBy NGPP Member Michael Zekich, Safe & Simple Wallpaper Removal, Pasadena, California

On May 14, 2013, West Region Director Jeff Smith met with members of the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Coachella Valley Chapters at a barbeque and Guild meeting hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter at member Mike Zekich’s home.

It was a great opportunity for members to meet Jeff (newly installed Regional Director) in person.  The relaxed atmosphere, wonderful weather and good home style cooking (Mike made his famous home-made Italian sausages) was enjoyed by all.

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I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I talk to people, members and non-members alike. Members shared with me how they always pick up a new trick or hone a skill at conventions which has them saying “this alone is worth the cost of admission” yet non- members ask why should I go?

I remember my first convention in New Orleans, I was sitting around listening to a panel talking about “green” building methods and how this trend affected paperhangers. The panel talked about how commercial buildings turn down air circulation at night to conserve energy. The result for an installer is that moisture collects in the space and the wallcoverings such as fibers and grasses can fail. I thought to myself, that’s what I need to think about and that’s why I’m here. This alone is worth the cost of admission. The next year in Ohio I learned about Recor, that new-fangled paper that won’t bend around an outside corner. But in the hands-on segment, I picked up a trick that was so simple yet I needed to be shown by a fellow Guild member how to do this. Again, worth it!

In a recent Northern California Chapter meeting where Jeff Smith, Regional Director, was in attendance, we were talking about how much we love the Guild and why we go to conventions. We all marveled that you’re

never alone at the wall when you are a Guild member. There is always someone to call for help and advice when you’re on a tough job. And at the convention, you meet people from all over the U.S. and other countries even! These are people you could only get to know at the convention and what results is that the names in the directory become people that you have met and now built a relationship! This is the epitomy of network building which is one of the top reasons for being a member.

Consider joining us in Reno as it’s going to be a great time with great return

on investment. We are planning evening activities so we

can all get to know each other better. There’s a

charity hang on the Thursday before at the Ronald McDonald House and everyone is welcome to pitch in. The pre-convention

classes being offered by the education committee are

going to be exceptional. If you

have any questions you can always call or

email me at [email protected] or (510) 541-9546 or contact the national office as well. I hope to see you in Reno.

Recently Guild member Chris Johnson and I visited Ventura, CA for a two-day training course on the Fabric Mate Acoustical Systems. While attending the PDCA convention in March in St. Louis, we met Cal Costea and Rick Carter of Fabric Mate. Cal invited us out to California to train and learn the unique properties of their Recore Padding and Track System. They very generously put us up in a nice hotel, which they offer to anyone in the NGPP, as well as paint contractors interested in increasing their

bottom line and who are willing to learn this aspect of the industry. Many installers are making serious money doing this.

During our visit we toured their new, state-of-the-art headquarters which they should be moving into as I write this. Most of the walls are covered in color coordinated fabrics and laid out to showcase the many ways these walls can be used in gymnasiums, places of worship, car dealerships, board rooms, cubicles or anywhere the desire for sound absorption is needed. Customized fabric graphics, ”tackable” and magnetic panels, and much more is offered.  

Fabric Mate is an environmentally conscious company; this is a good selling point to those like-minded customers. The Recore is made with recycled water bottles and other similar recycled materials. Another great selling point about Recore is its durability and water resistant nature. In fact, during the demonstration we saw how you could hammer the Recore and not damage it. You could even place it in water without damage or a mold/mildew issue. 

I would recommend anyone interested to check out their website at www.fabricmate.com or contact Cal Costea at (805)642-7470 or send him an email at [email protected].

Fabric MateBy NGPP Member Don Dye, Wallcovering by Don Dye, Sugar Land, Texas

The Wallcovering Installer is published bi-monthly by the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, Inc. The subscription is included with membership, but is available for $36 annually to non-members.

Contact the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers:136 South Keowee StreetDayton, Ohio 45402(800) 254-NGPPFax (937) 222-5794 [email protected] • www.ngpp.org

ExEcutivE vicE PrEsidEntKimberly A. Fantaci

thE installEr EditorLauretta Jenkins

officErsPresident - Cyndi Green, C.P.1st VP - Vincent LaRusso, C.P.2nd VP - Phil ReinhardTreasurer - Chris MurphySecretary - Bob BankerPast President - Elsie Kapteina, C.P.

national associatE co-chairJessy Russo, Russo Roman Decorating Products Greg Laux, MDC Wallcoverings

rEgion dirEctorsCentral - Steven Neal Kaye, C.P.West - Jeff SmithNortheast- Jack EganMid-Atlantic - Michelle CorlSouth Region Director- Pam McCartney

The INSTALLERVolume 38, Issue 3 May/June 2013

Sweep with easeBy NGPP Member Bill Armstrong, Armstrong Wallcovering, Knoxville, Tennessee

Here’s one little tip that may make your day a bit easier. I have come across a number of products over the last few years that have a tendency to mark/scratch the surface easily if you’re using a plastic smoother. These include shiny slick surfaces such as mylars, Wall-Talkers, and even some graphics. I have attempted many things and have found the

most success with wrapping my smoother with “Scott’s Blue Shop Towels” on a roll. They hold up rather well. I will usually wrap two or three smoothers in advance by wrapping tightly, and taping the towels to my smoother. It is important to leave no overlaps or creases.

Why Go to convention?By NGPP National Convention Chair Heidi Wright Mead, C.P., Heidi Wright Mead Paperhanger, Oakland, California

Editor’s Note: The previous issue of The Installer included an article on “How to Give a Speech.” The original sources for this article included in Act Now and e-How.

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I have been receiving emails from one of our vendors for awhile now. Great images of beautiful art affixed to ceilings, walls, tile, wood and fabric. I always check out where and when the next installation class is being held. When it was offered less than two hours from my home I knew it was time to see what this process of transferring images fresco-style was all about.

In February I attended a Tattoowall class with three other chapter members and had a blast! Believe it or not, the instructor said that very few wallcovering installers attend these classes; usually fine artists attend. However, this product is made for our skill set. It was fun learning something new. Kelly Petersen, the instructor, taught the two-day course out of her studio, Layers of Color, in Roseville, California.

To describe it briefly, theirs is a process where you apply a “size” to the surface (wall) and let

it dry to tack. The image is protected by a wax-like layer underneath an opaque layer on the surface. You can, however, see the image if you hold the panel up to the light. But the magic happens after the panel is affixed to the wall. The backing is pulled away during installation and the protective front layer is pulled off last. I must say, the reveal was always exciting. It is a bit like putting up contact paper or peel-n-stick murals. Yet it is more. The mural is deeply embedded with the image and is also very thin, strong, and surprisingly flexible. We applied the mural on a very rough surface that had texture of 1/4 inch thick. The fine artists were commenting how they could never paint an image on such a rough surface. The paperhangers said the challenge of smoothing a wallcovering on such a rough surface would be laden with problems. Yet the Tattoowall stuck and melded to the nooks and crannies of the roughness. Amazing! It can be installed on interior and exterior surfaces.

For our final exam we installed a 5-ft. X 5-ft. mural that Kelly’s assistant, Christina, had painted. Now the original art is on the wall of Christina’s client. However, she owns the rights to the image and had Tatoowall make the 5-ft. X 5-ft. mural of her 24-inch (ish) painting. You can see why so many artists love this process!

• CarlBergmanC.P. Carl Bergman Decorating Rockford, Illinois

• SteveBreckbillC.P. Takoma Paperhangers Inc. Takoma Park, Maryland

• RichardBurgerC.P. Rich’s Painting & Decorating Lombard, Illinois

• AnthonyChiorazziC.P. Tony and Sons Decorating Contractors Bensalem, Pennsylvania

• JenniferCurtisC.P. Curtis Enterprises South Holland, Illinois

• PhilCurtisC.P. Curtis Enterprises South Holland, Illinois

• LarryDuvalC.P. Larry Duval Wallcovering Service LLC Tampa, Florida

• ElsieKapteinaC.P. Wallpaper Hangups by Elsie Bethel, Connecticut

• GerardPoirierC.P. Attention to Detail Chester, New Hampshire

• AlanRadaC.P. Decorada Wallpaper Installation Brooklyn, New York

• AnthonyRussoC.P. Anthony P. Russo Paperhanging Stratford, Connecticut

• PhyllisVanKampenC.P. Van Kampen Decorating Wheaton, Illinois

• LynnieWinterC.P. Lynnie Winter Professional Wallpaper Hanging Downers Grove, Illinois

congratulations cP renewals!The NGPP would like to congratulate those new and renewing Certified Paperhangers for 2013 (to date):

Watch The Installer for more upcoming renewals and be sure to congratulate these folks on their accomplishments!

ArcHIteXtUre, Imagine - Design - create

By NGPP West Alternate Region Director Heidi Wright Mead, C.P., Heidi Wright Mead Paperhanger, Oakland, California

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Get a blog and Get the Job!By NGPP Member Julie Young,The Wallpaper Lady, Houston, Texas

By now you know that many, if not most, people seeking goods or services turn first to the Internet. So to reach these potential clients, you know that you need a website, right? You also need a blog.  Here’s why: When someone hunts for something on the Internet, he uses a search engine (like Google). Search engines love activity, but they abhor stagnation and will skim right over websites with old content. Chances are your website is not updated very often, probably not every month, and maybe not even every year. But a blog is updated several times a week. All that activity is much more likely to catch the attention of the search engines and potential clients, than a pretty but inert website.  

WHAT IS A BLOG?A blog is YOU—your own personal thoughts, experiences, ideas, opinions, and photographs posted on a website that you update frequently. If you don’t yet have a website, a blog can be used instead. Most blogs can be customized to include pages, sections, tabs, links, etc., providing information to clients about you, your services, testimonials, and more. Depending on how clever you are at the computer, your blog can be just as attractive as a website.  

HOW DO YOU GET A BLOG?  Best of all, there are scores of free blog sites out there. WordPress and Blogger are perhaps the best known. Here they are, along with others you might explore.

www.wordpress.com www.blogger.com www.thoughts.com www.weebly.com www.blog.com www.blogdrive.com

Of course you can buy blogs, too, or even pay someone to create and manage one. No doubt, the first few hours trying to set the thing up and figure out how to work it will result in much cussin’ and cryin’.  But once you get the hang of it, you can design an attractive site, post photos, and most importantly, let people know what’s on your mind.

WHAT SHOULD I BLOG ABOUT?When I first started blogging, I couldn’t think of anything to say. Or I thought it had to be something profound.  I’d put it off and put it off and spend

way too much time agonizing over what to write. In desperation I’d write, “Better Homes & Gardens had an article with wallpaper in the background.” Well it was a start. After a while, I learned how to make small concepts sound grander. “Better Homes & Gardens magazine had a decorating article in the June issue that showed an orange and white geometric wallpaper pattern that really pumped up the drama in a modern living room.” Or I’d post the brand and pattern number of the paper I had hung that day, with a link to it on the manufacturer’s website. Links are good; see below.

As time went on and I got better at blogging, I realized that anything that happened at work was fodder for a post. Pretty soon I was finding topics at work, in magazines, at Sherwin-Williams, just about anywhere. These days I have so many ideas that I frequently write up several posts when I have a little spare time, and save them as drafts that can be posted later. I soon realized that it didn’t have to be a literary masterpiece – just something short in my everyday language was perfect.  In fact, writing as if you were speaking is a good way to interject your personality into your blog. This is a good thing, because it helps the reader (your potential client) to get to know you and feel comfortable with you.  

When I first started blogging, I stuck to decorating topics, thinking that was what most clients were interested in. But when interesting things started happening at work and I wanted to write about them, I realized that these could be marketing tools too. A detailed post about a problem that you encountered and how you solved it speaks volumes about your attention to detail, your knowledge and skill, and your determination to provide the best possible job.

HOW DO TAGS HELP?Tags are key words or short phrases in your story that are meant to attract the search engines. For instance, someone doing a search for a paperhanger in your city will type “wallpaper hanger Big Town, USA.” Then the search engine scans the web for posts; fresh new posts that contain those words. Therefore, in order to attract hits from people seeking paperhangers, your blog entries should always include the word “wallpaper,” and probably also “paperhanger” or “installer,” and

maybe the name of your city, as well. Your blog program will have a special window for you to type these key words, and then it will display them as tags at the bottom of your post.

HOW DO LINKS HELP?Links help attract hits. If you mention something in your post that can be found on the Internet, make a link. For instance, I might blog that I hung Thibaut’s pattern #T-123.  I’ll look up the pattern on their website, and then make a link from my blog to their site.    

You should also link to other websites. For instance, if you work with a particular designer, contractor, or vendor, link your blog to her website, and have her link her website to your blog. This increases your exposure on the ’net, because when people visit the designer’s website they will see the link to your blog; Click … another visitor! And by all means, link the blog to your own website, too.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU BLOG?Remember, activity attracts hits. The more posts you have, the more material there is for the search engines to hit on. And search engines hunt for fresh material. So, blog every day if you want; at minimum a couple of times a week. Even once a month is better than nothing. Just don’t let it dribble off to nothing. On days when you can’t think of anything to say or don’t have time, pull out one of your pre-prepared drafts and post that.

DO PEOPLE REALLY READ THESE BLOGS?Yes!  My clients say all the time, “I saw on your blog that you give quotes on Sunday afternoons.” Or “I want to do the trellis paper I saw on your blog.” Or they’ll repeat something that I know they read on one of the pages. Here’s what one homeowner emailed to me: “I have just spent the last thirty minutes reading your blog and am incredibly impressed by your passion for wallpaper and by the educational element to your blog.”

While some famous bloggers have thousands of followers who check in every day, readers of your paperhanger’s blog will probably visit only a few times. They’re looking for information about you and your business, and once their wallpaper project is finished, they won’t be back. So you have one chance to catch their attention, show them that you know your stuff, and get them to call you.

HOW TO KEEP IT INTERESTING  Write about a variety of topics, design, products, things you do at work, comments someone made about a finished room etc. People love photos. Photos can say in an instant what it would take you (and the reader) a lot of time in words. Vary your posts. Some days you might write words, other times you might post photos or videos. Intermix “light” stories with more technical ones. I try to keep my blog visually interesting by putting a story with a photograph in between posts that contain only writing.    

OTHER TIPSAs a rule, keep posts short; two paragraphs or so. Readers scan quickly, some of them squinting at tiny cell phone screens. Never say anything negative about a job, client, competitor, product, etc., and don’t use the blog to whine or complain. Use proper grammar and punctuation, full sentences, and run spellcheck before hitting “post.”

Remember, activity generates hits. Have friends and family click on your blog every day. Have friends and family make comments on your blog. Be sure the header on the blog displays your name, business name, and contact information, or include that info on pages that are easy for the reader to find.

Include a photo of yourself if you like, but make sure it’s professional; no grandkids or pets, and no beach shots with you in sunglasses and a Speedo. Check your efficacy. Your blog site will send you a monthly and then an annual summary of your activity that contains useful information, such as how many posts you made, how many visitors you had, how those visitors found you, how many pages they looked at, how much time they spent on your site, and the like.  Want to see an example? Go to:  http://wallpaperlady.wordpress.com/

For more information on blogging, just do a search online or check the how-to’s and FAQs of the many blog sites. Here’s a good site that answers many questions:  http://weblogs.about.com/

Now that you are convinced of how a blog will help your business, and you are planning to set one up right away, I’ve gotta tell you…you need to get active on Facebook and Twitter, too! Feel free to contact me with any questions: (713) 528-5614 or [email protected].

May/June 2013 - Page 12

Painting and wallcovering professionals trust Dynamite® brand wallcovering adhesives for engineered quality that delivers dynamite results.

Dynamite 234 Heavy Duty Clear, our premium strippable adhesive, offers superior open time, wet tack and slip, making it the industry leader for ease of use.

Dynamite offers a full commercial line of adhesives, caulks and spackling. See the complete line on our website, www. gardner-gibson.com.

Gardner-Gibson, Inc. proudly supports The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers.

CHAPTERSAtlanta

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central Pennsylvaniachicago

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connecticutDelaware county

Greater cincinnatilos AngelesMiami ValleyMilwaukeenew Jersey

new orleansnew York

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rocky Mountain chapterSan Diego

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